PREFACE. THE present work was originally undertaken with the design merely of remedying some defects in the plan and execution of a former publication of the author entitled, "Scripture Questions designed principally for Adult Bible Classes," defects arising in great measure from the paucity of critical and other helps to which his situation gave him access. Being enabled to enter upon the task of revision and emendation with a more ample apparatus, he was soon admonished, by the growing mass of annotations which accumulated under the pen, of the necessity either of restricting himself to very slight alterations in the published volume, or of entirely re-modelling the original plan, and constructing, upon a much larger scale, an entirely new work. He resolved upon the latter. The fruits of that resolution are now presented to the public. In the prosecution of the plan adopted the author has availed himself of every aid within his reach which could be made to contribute to his main purpose, viz. the clear, simple, precise explication of the written oracles of God. This object evidently could not be attained without giving to the work a character predominantly eritical. But an apology on this score can scarcely be necessary at this day, when the claims of sacred philology are beginning to be so highly and duly appreciated by the enlightened friends of the Bible; when it is so generally felt that the grand aim of the scrip tural commentator should be to fix, with the most absolute precision, the exact 'mind of the Spirit' in his own word; and when it is so well understood that this can be done only by a familiar acquaintance with the original in its verbal and idiomatic peculiarities, its parallel usages, and its archæological illustrations. In all these respects it is hoped that the present volume may be found not unworthy of the copious sources of exegetic elucidation which have been pressed into the work of its preparation. Of these the Ancient Versions contained in the invaluable London Polyglot of Walton have been found by far the most important, and their frequent citation in abbreviated terms renders necessary the following EXPLANATIONS. The Chaldee Targum, i. e. Paraphrase, of Onkelos. The Jerusalem Targum. The Greek Version of the Septuagint. The Samaritan do. The Arabic do. Of all these Versions, their authors, character, age, value, &c., the biblical student will find a full account in 'Horne's Intro duction.' As it respects the pronunciation of Hebrew words given in the present work in English letters, it may be remarked that â u j has the sound of a in hall. that of oo in moon. that of y in the beginning of a word. NEW-YORK, January 1, 1831. LIST OF CRITICAL AND OTHER WORKS EMPLOYED IN THE PREPARATION OF THE ENSUING NOTES. HUGHES' Analyt. Expos. of Gen. and Ex. Lond............ 1632 DUTCH ANNOTATIONS, translated by Haak, 2 vols. J. CLERICUS in Libros Moses, Amst... BIBLIA SACRA, ed. Vatabli, Hanoviæ.. Lond... 1657 1710 1605 1602 1606 1657 1821 1823 1725 1823 ASSEMBLY'S ANNOTATIONS, Lond.. SCHMIDII (Seb.) Annotationes in Genesim, Argent..........1696 LIGHTFOOT'S Works, 13 vols. Lond... GLASSII Philologia Sacra, Lips...... GERARD'S Inst. of Bib. Criticism, Bost... COMMENTARY on the Pentateuch by Bp. Kidder, 2 vols. Lond. 1694 STACKHOUSE's Hist. of the Bible, 3 vols. Lond... CLAYTON'S Scripture Chronology, Lond... HARRIS' Nat. Hist. of the Bible, Bost......... LEIGH'S Critica Sacra, Gothæ.... 1817 1754 1747 1713 1734 QUESTIONS AND NOTES, &c. INTRODUCTORY. What is the most familiar title of the sacred volume ? Ans. THE BIBLE. What is the meaning of the word Bible? THE BOOK; though this appellation is not one bestowed by the inspired writers themselves. They, for the most part, denominate their writings the Scriptures; the Holy Scriptures; the Word of God, &c. It is called the Bible, or the Book, by way of emphasis and eminence, to denote its being the Book of books, infinitely superior to every human composition. This title originated at a very early period principally from the usage of the Greek Fathers, and has since been generally adopted by the Christian world. What are the two great and primary divisions of the Bible? What authority is there for the use of the term Testament in this sense? 2 Cor. 3. 6, 14;' Mat. 26. 28. The original word for Testament is also frequently rendered Covenant, and were such the usage, there |